Elektroprivreda (EPCG) has announced that its ‘Share the Burden’ initiative currently has 13,500 active agreements, demonstrating significant success in supporting consumers.
Bianca Nikolić, Assistant Executive Director of FC Supply, stated that this 12th round of the program has been well-received by users. It enables households to repay outstanding debts through fixed monthly installments of €20 while ensuring their current bills are paid on time.
Participants in the ‘Share the Burden’ program are exempt from forced collection methods, and interest on overdue payments is suspended. Many consumers who have cleared their debts through the program have now become regular payers of their electricity bills.
The initiative, which started in 2013, has contributed to a notable increase in the number of regular consumers. As of July 31, 240,980 households were regular payers, making up 60.93% of all residential consumers, up from 131,810 (38%) in December 2013.
Nikolić emphasized that while the ‘Share the Burden’ program has significantly influenced this growth, improvements in Automated Meter Management (AMM) coverage, which now stands at around 77%, have also played a role. In 2013, the AMM project was still in its infancy.
Advancements in electronic services—such as mobile apps, web portals, and online payment options—have made it easier for consumers to settle their bills without incurring additional fees.
Households with monthly consumption under 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) can receive discounts on their bills, encouraging timely payments. Nikolić praised the efforts of FC employees who strive to assist consumers and facilitate debt collection.
A noteworthy aspect of the program is that customers who were disconnected from the network can reapply, provided they pay a reconnection fee.
In this latest round, the highest number of agreements was made in Podgorica, Nikšić and Bijelo Polje. Notably, the number of regular consumers in Herceg Novi and Tivat has remained stable or increased, with Nikšić recording 1,040 new agreements.
For business consumers, 550 agreements were established over the past year, including 412 standard payment plans for electricity debts and 138 agreements under preferential conditions.
The ‘Share the Burden’ campaign is implemented by FC Supply in collaboration with the Corporate Communications Sector.
